HUL is looking for the next CEO and MD to succeed Sanjiv Mehta. Mehta has been CEO and Managing Director of HUL, India’s largest consumer goods maker company since 2013. He steps down from his role at HUL.
Succession planning enables companies to choose the right candidate for top-level senior positions. In Hindustan Unilever, some strong contenders are present internally for the vacant post.
There has been a strong contention in the company between Priya Nair and Rohit Jawa. Between these two, Jawa is senior and currently is Chief Transformation Officer for HUL. Nair is the Global Chief Marketing Officer of the Beauty and Well-being segment of the parent company
HUL spokesperson told, “We would not like to respond to rumors or speculation at a time when Sanjiv is actively leading the business.” HUL has established itself as a CXO factory over the years and the spokesperson also exclaimed “This has been enabled by robust and continuous leadership development and succession planning process for our key talent and roles.”
Under the leadership of Sanjiv Mehta, the market capitalization of HUL has grown much larger than that of the combined market cap of Colgate, Dabur, Godrej, and P&G. The market value of the company has quadrupled to 6.3 Lakh crore. The company, therefore, looks minutely and strategizes the succession of Mehta to continue to develop and expand in new categories.
New CEO and MD strong contenders:
The firm has two strong contenders both highly deserving of the distinctive and impactful role of CEO and MD at HUL. In a quick background description of the first internal contender Jawa, it can be said that Jawa joined HUL as a Management Trainee in 1988.
He actively worked for the company and currently is 57 years old. He has served in many leadership roles in various departments. Some of the departments are Sales, Marketing, Transformation, and General Management.
On the other hand, Nair, 50 is a product of the Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune. She also joined HUL as a Management Trainee and she has been handling home care, beauty, and personal care portfolios.
Reportedly, Nair is currently being groomed for the new role and if she becomes the successor of Sanjiv Mehta, she will be the first women CEO of HUL.
